Summit - University in Saint Paul in Ramsey County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Serial Racial Displacement
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Rondo Properties Lost to I-94
Photographed by McGhiever, July 13, 2021
1. Serial Racial Displacement / Rondo Properties Lost to I-94 Marker
Professor Catherine R. Squires
Catherine R. Squires is Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Minnesota
In the 1950s, Rondo was a robust mix of single-family homes, parks, shops, restaurants, churches and social clubs. It was an urban village of strong social networks, mutual support, and shared values. A resident walking down Rondo Avenue from Lexington to Rice Street would hardly call the area a slum.
But that is exactly what freeway planners did. They designated Rondo as a slum to justify routing I-94 through the heart of Rondo, thereby disrupting the lives of thousands of residents, drying up community resources, and separating friends and families.
Imagine being forced from your house to make way for I-94. The state doesn't give you fair value for your home, so you lose equity. Redlining and mortgage discrimination render you "unqualified" for a loan. You lose your job because your workplace was bulldozed and your boss can't afford to rebuild. No one knows when you'll get back to living how you did before.
Now imagine that happening to hundreds of families from University Avenue to Selby, on Oatmeal Hill or down in Cornmeal Valley.
Rondo's destruction
this page online
Displaced people are forced to spend savings on moving and resettling. Little is left for new enterprises. Plus, Rondo residents weren't able to all move to the same neighborhoods, so recreating the community institutions that folks shared became nearly impossible.
Displacement results in depleted resources, loss of health care, family separation, and higher exposure to violence. This devastating impact underscores the need to engage in remembrance and restoration of Rondo.
Top: probably looking west from vicinity of the Dale Street bridge, 1966
Middle: this map shows two possible routes for I-94, one along St. Anthony, the other near present day Pierce Butler Route. St. Paul City Council approved the St. Anthony route in 1947, even though it required the removal of more [sic] far more residential buildings.
Bottom: I-94 construction, looking toward St. Anthony and St. Albans, 1966
Photographs courtesy Minnesota Historical Society
Photographed by McGhiever, July 13, 2021
2. Marker, left of the two-panel map at the Rondo Commemorative Plaza
Cummin's addition
State of MN State of MN State of MN Helmut R. Kroening State of MN Bennett Greenman State of MN Emmett L. Jones Ora L. Reed Clark Dorothy M. Blomquist
Buel & Mackubin outlot
Harold Carlson George M. Otto Donald W. Wetherby City of St. Paul
Donnelly's addition
Elbert Gilbreath State of MN Irene Jackman David M. Mayes John M. Patton John M. Patton Guinevere P. Kelly Fredrica Ellsworth Weston Robert Grasloff State of MN Alexander Thomas Perry Alex Wiseman Certis A. Taylor
Varner's subdivision
Alphonse Vogel Florence Mae Gaylord State of MN State of MN Eula C. Sheppard C.G. Rein Investment Twin City Negro Development Co. Inc Foster A. Brown
Walker & Goodine's addition
Horace Allen Robert J. Smith Deppie L. Shelton Robert Lee Shaffner Elsie M. Mason James Smith Readus W. Fletcher Fannie William Marilyn G. Walker Fouchia Sonion Charles W. Hargrave Mabel Turner Brown Robert F. Brown Elias Fehr Roy W. Ervin Robert Elliot
Roger's second addition
Woodford W. Mills Earlyn R. Bell Margartha Lundsley Benjamin F. Henderson Agnes Petersen Muriel Seifert Fred Seifert Bernettie Schwers Charles C. Hogg Carlos R. Moffat Ottile Emily Fettinger Meta Anna Mitchell John E. Blomquist State of MN Mahion H. Thomas
Stone and Roger's addition
Claiborne C. Hill Frank Gambol Virginia T. Hedge Rudolph E. Hansen Walter Bennett John A. Smith, Est. Louise Jackson Knox State of MN Charles F. Rogers Lethel Maywether Northern State Power Co. Harry Mitchell Earl S. Weber
Edwin Dean's second addition
Mary Rosalie Angler Corinda L. Gate Julius W. McNeal State of MN Helen M. Stevens Paul H. Jackson Laura Hitzeman Eli N. Nartin Northern States Power Co. Joseph A. Price Arthur G. Peaples Edward Larry Madeline L. Graves George Hodgin Jacob Gingold Russell T. Balenger James A. Thomas Lillian Brown Irene E. Edwards Henry Courtney Hilyard Ines Goss Andrew Mahan Max J. Ehrlich Luther E. Johnson Isaac R. Blakey Isaac R. Blakey John Williams Elizabeth Clark Andrew Brooks Margaret L. Shaw Lena Brown
Edwin Dean's second addition
James Watson Lester E. Boyd George W. Brooks Jr Hermione D. Hickman Richard W. Schwinden Genevieve H. Aikens Genevieve H. Aikens Arthur R. Blakey Ben C. Daniels State of MN Trustees of Perfect Ashlar Lodge No 4 Howard E. Johnson State of MN William M. White Timothy J. Howard Earsel Neal Oliver David Lewis Nathaniel N. Galloway Mathilda Spiehs William Briley
Edwin Dean's second addition
Marguerite C. Wilson Willard Dean Herman Few Earl W. Neil Pearl Brooks Samuel Rogers Kathryn A. Sterling Luella McGee Maceo G. Moody National Investment Co. Maceo G. Moody Lyola Pillow Alfred Williams
Wm Bickel's subdivision
City of St Paul City of St Paul Board of Education of St. Paul Melvin Carter James H. Rideaux Maude L. Brooks Maude L. Brooks Benjamin F. Taylor Emmett C. Searles Terell J. Jackson Louise C. Johnson Marion V. Oden Edward Ervin Milton L. McGee
Larpenteur's subdivision "A"
Elmer L. Harris Arnold J. Bibeau Ennis B. Johnson, Est. Clyde R. Allen State of MN State of MN St Paul Catholic Orphan Asylum John Fowler Sr. George W. Berry William M. Gaddette Paul R. Miller Amanda W. Williams Harvey C. Thaemert Antonia Maceo Simmons Josie Todd Cecil C. Neal The Hazelden Foundation
Mackubin and Marshall's addition
Clarence A. Shuck Elizabeth Hunter Hall James B. Nelson Theodore F. Schmid Haywood W. Kemp James C. Curtis Mary Magee John Henderson Isabella F. Boyd State of MN Robert L. Milton Ben Jobe Isabella F. Boyd S.M.A. Bolden James Williams James Williams Eva K. Ball Brooks William Raymond Mayme K. McCoy Clara Smith Esther O'Shields William O'Shields Hugh W. Shuck May Williams McCarty State of MN James S. Griffin Annie Black Mae Addie Lark, Est. David Reese Harry R. Whyte Della Williams
Auditor's subdivision No 31
William Aberman Jessie Allison Administratrix Sarah Haller Effie Garrett Marion Stone Marion Stone Walter Baines George Blank Jessie E. Smith
Wilson's rearrangement of Apt of Marshall's sub of blk 27 Mackubin and Marshall addition
Calvin L. Humburd Peter M. Sunness Alice M. Harding William Steward J.E. Johnson Adele Henning Dorothy J. Britt Walter Bledsoe Royal Zeno John Von Grunigen Walter B. Bains Lee Miller William Haigh Dining Car Employee Union Local No. 516 Mildred B. Sharp Leora B. Blair George M. Aitkins George Brooks Jr.
Mackubin and Marshall's addition
Robert F. Strupp Isabelle H. Beck Thomas Smith Samuel Pogoler Pink Grent Clara Williams Mary L. England Edward John Luhsis Homer S. Dukes Norris N. Harper Theodore R. Simmons Alberta Ragland Ernest James Fullbright Archie Miller Thomas Clemons Thomas Clemons John H. Arland William W. Wimberly David W. Wiegan John E. Blomquist, Inc Margaret Henderson William B. Davis Albet K. Von Dorf Elijha E. Barker James Williams Laura Price Sam H. Davis Mittie Thompson Alfred L. Mertz Edgar Frankel George J. LeTourneau Rudolph Jungk Edward R. Sandford Jr Troy L. Davis Era B. Davis Willie Frank Fields Rosa B. Martin Luke A. Glendenina Mary C. Pommer Geraldine Brantley David W. Brantley Adophus Perry Fred J. Hetu Sallie Ellis Fletcher Arthur P. Auge Don J. Presley Grace Perry Renfro Maceo A. Finney Clarence Wright Cyrus L. Lewis Walter Hull Lulu M. Howland State of MN Lillian Stoval Jesse L. Arnold Leon H. Thomas Beveleng Lewis Nellie May Alexander Mathias Dribaum Mabel Reinhold Bessie M. Dodd Mance Ellis Hans A. Hansen Jessie H. Reasby Ora Lee Anderson Grice LeRoy Gardner Mabel Farmer Herbert Thomas Edward J. Adam R.L. Milton State of MN Philip S. Rosenblum Littleton J. Gardner Cyrus L. Lewis Percy Hampton John E. Stone John E. Stone Albert Nins Eula Mae Willimas Rudolph Ellis Willie B. Woods State of MN Terrence O. Toole Fern Clark State of MN Arthur E. Thom Henry W. Adkins Douglas S. Green Dorothy W. Baker Emma Jackson Carl L. Kubiak Phillip S. Rosenblum Irene A. Lankford Adell Granes Galloway City of St. Paul
Grace's addition to St. Paul
City of St Paul Elliot Karasov Ferdinand M. Broz Spencer Cassell Julius Avery Robert S. Baldinger Daniel Myles State of MN Paul Daggett Arthur K. Wurdemann Sterling K. Harris
Nininger's addition
Earnest Robinson Fleetwood Smith Royal Realty Co. Matthew H. Russell George Andreen State of MN Albert Venteres Karlis Libers Marie Klawitter Kiril A Toscheff Clarence A. Lindeke Henry Bailey Meyer Winer Phillip S. Rosenblum Charles W. Spicer Rudolf J. Stoschein Charles W. Spicer Dorothy E. Barrett Harry A. Schulenburg Gerald J. Isaacs Walter Espinoso Louis Nilva Ethel Talschinski Frank Cook James J. Wielinksi Martha Sikorski Frank H. Spreeman, Est John E. Bloomquist, Inc. Nathaniel C. Thurber Theodore J. Wolkerstorfer Johanna Stenzel Ida Pewters Bernice Freid Paul J. Martin Arthur H. Sandman William H. Brown Edith E. Lotzer Albert L. Best
Bailey's addition
Frank H. Thompson Catherine Lefevere Thoedore Besaw Otis R. Stacey Charles J. Pheneger Herb S. Lueck Julius Katz Charles P. Barns Mary Flahave State of MN Harry M. Friedman Robert F. Wille John A. Johnson Lewis B Owen
Auditors subdivision No 75
Eleanor Connolly Joseph H. Carter
Rondo's addition
Warren C. Weller Gordon Heille Harry E. Miller Frieda M. Mears Agnes M. Anderson Lillie O.R. Preston Charles R. Pederson William M. McIntyre Myrtle L. Peglow Agnes Marie Andson Henry J. Leeder Estate State of MN Independent School District No 625 Shirley Cisneros Harold C. Erickson Francis J. Hau Theodore S. Bergeron Isabel M. (Nimis) Gagnon Lucille Juenemann Max Hyatt Anna R. Uhlir Estate Louis H. Meyers Max Hyatt Dennis R. Spexet Clarence C. Vadnais
Kuhn's sub of blk 5 Rondo's addition to St Paul
Roy William Denet Oscar A. Anfinson Erkling Eikaas Palmer Nelson Frank C. Hulpke Isabel M. Gagnon Willie May Hassey Alma G. Schaffer
Irvine's addition
David Stein Worth K. Rice John E. Blomquist John E. Blomquist Sam Battisto Mary Marx Clifford L. Schulte
Summit Crescent addition
Igo Bros. Famous Traders Marion Schapiro Henry D. Michael
This list (although incomplete) features homeowners and business owners who lost property during I-94's construction. Listed names were pulled from the map at the right (which lists all property owners as of 1958), but does not include renters or homes purchased by the City of St. Paul or the State of Minnesota.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Disasters • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1958.
Location. 44° 57.059′ N, 93° 8.107′ W. Marker is in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in Ramsey County. It is in Summit - University. It is at the intersection of N. Fisk Street and Rondo Avenue, on the right when traveling south on N. Fisk Street. The marker is at the Rondo Commemorative Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 820 Rondo Avenue, Saint Paul MN 55104, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Rondo Landmarks / The Story of 755 Rondo (here, next to this marker); History of Rondo / Redlining Rondo (here, next to this marker); Rondo 19701982 / Words from the Founders (here, next to this marker); Rondo Commemorative Plaza Site / Rondo Today (here, next to this marker); Hmong in the Rondo Neighborhood / The Oromo of Rondo (a few steps from this marker); Karen People in Rondo / Somalis in Rondo (a few steps from this marker); Pilgrim Baptist Church (approx. Ό mile away); From Service to Solidarity (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Saint Paul.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2024, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 569 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 17, 2024, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 2. submitted on March 20, 2024, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
